Ecological Forester/Certification Coordinator

The Nature Conservancy•Atlanta, GA

1d•Remote

About The Position

The Ecological Forester/Certification Coordinator is a dual-focus position sitting at the intersection of traditional forestry and conservation science based out of a negotiable location in Georgia. Approximately 50% of this role supports TNC’s Georgia Stewardship and Fire Team, while the remaining 50% supports TNC’s North America Natural Climate Solutions Team by managing the organization’s Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Group certificate (PBN-FM/COC000238). This is an opportunity for a forester who is eager to apply technical skills in service of ecological outcomes — working deliberately away from conventional commercial forestry and toward landscape-scale restoration while ensuring the highest and most rigorous standards are met. The Ecological Forester/Certification Coordinator provides technical leadership and hands-on management for forest restoration programs in Georgia and across North America. In Georgia, this position focuses on restoring fire-dependent ecosystems — primarily longleaf pine and the mixed pine/pyric hardwood systems of the coastal plain, piedmont, and southern Appalachians— using forestry tools to achieve ecological rather than commercial goals on TNC owned lands and working with partners including federal and state agencies, land trusts, and private landowners. In addition, the Ecological Forester/Certification Coordinator administers TNC’s FSC Group certificate ensuring that forest management and operations across TNC’s United States’ portfolio meets or exceeds FSC standards. The position works closely with TNC Business Units, certification bodies, and others outside of the organization to initiate engagements, build networks, and provide technical and administrative support. This includes gathering and organizing data, planning and providing training, and coordinating annual auditing and reporting.

Requirements

BA/BS in Forestry, Forest Ecology, Natural Resource Management, or a closely related field, and 5 years’ experience in forestry, land stewardship, or ecological restoration, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Experience negotiating complex agreements.
Demonstrated experience in timber harvest planning, silvicultural prescription writing, or forest management planning.
Experience training and communicating with partners, landowners, contractors, and/or the public, both in writing and verbally.
Valid driver’s license and ability to work in remote field conditions, including rugged terrain and variable weather.
Ability to work in remote field conditions, including rugged terrain and variable weather.
This position requires a valid driver's license and compliance with TNC’s Auto Safety Program.
Employees may not drive Conservancy-owned/leased vehicles, rental cars, or personal vehicles on behalf of the Conservancy if considered "high risk drivers."
Employment in this position will be contingent upon completion of a Vehicle Use Agreement, which may include a review of the prospective employee's motor vehicle record.

Nice To Haves

Proficiency in GIS, forest inventory tools, and standard office applications (Microsoft Word, Excel, and web browsers), including database and content management systems.
Experience with or willingness to engage and support FSC certification programs, including familiarity with FSC Principles and Criteria, Group certification, and third-party auditing.
Licensed Forester (SAF Certified Forester or state-equivalent) or eligibility to obtain licensure.
Familiarity with longleaf pine ecology, wiregrass groundcover systems, and the Americas Longleaf Restoration Initiative or comparable regional restoration programs.
Knowledge of Southern Blue Ridge forest ecosystems, including upland hardwood, mixed pine-hardwood, and high-elevation communities.
Experience with prescribed fire as a land management tool, including NWCG FFT2 certification or willingness to obtain it.
Demonstrated ability to translate complex ecological or forestry information for non-technical audiences, including landowners, partners, and donors.
Experience developing and implementing complex, often unstructured, projects within set timeframes and with concentrated attention to detail.
Strong commitment to, and genuine interest in, conservation-based forest management, FSC certification, and departing from traditional commercial forestry practices in favor of ecologically-driven approaches.
Knowledge of current trends, technologies, and practices in forest restoration, conservation forestry, and natural resource stewardship and management.
Excellent written, verbal, and graphical communication skills; ability to complete tasks independently within established timelines.

Responsibilities

Serve as a member of TNC’s Georgia’s Stewardship and Fire Team, contributing forestry expertise to support the team’s integrated fire and land management program.
Manage TNC’s FSC certification for Georgia properties, including maintaining documentation, overseeing audits, and ensuring ongoing compliance with FSC standards.
Conduct forest inventory measures and analysis and/or develop and manage contracts for inventory work to be completed.
Develop and implement ecological timber harvest proposals targeting the removal of off-site species (e.g., loblolly pine planted in longleaf range, invasive hardwoods) and the thinning of overstocked stands resulting from prior management decisions and/or suppressed fire regimes.
Design harvest proposals that prioritize longleaf pine restoration outcomes under TNC’s Americas Longleaf Restoration Initiative goals, ensuring that timber operations function as ecological tools rather than commercial drivers.
Collaborate with partners — including federal and state agencies, private landowners, and conservation organizations — to craft timber management plans for Southern Blue Ridge ecosystems focused on ecological restoration.
Assist with prescribed fire planning and implementation in coordination with the Georgia TNC’s fire team and Georgia Interagency Burn Team partners, integrating forestry and fire as complementary restoration tools.
Monitor and evaluate forest stand conditions over time, tracking ecological outcomes such as longleaf seedling establishment, groundcover recovery, and reduction in competition from off-site species.
Financial responsibility may include working within and managing a project budget, negotiating and contracting with forestry service providers, and assisting in identifying funding sources to support restoration forestry activities.
Under minimal supervision, makes independent decisions based on analysis, forestry expertise, and conservation context.
Coordinate TNC’s FSC Group certificate in the United States, including serving as the primary point of contact with Group members, managing audits schedules and certification activities, and communicating across participating properties and business units.
Ensure conformance with FSC Principles and Criteria and relevant standards, by providing technical support and solutions, tracking audit results, preparing results reports, and training to drive adaptive management and innovation.
Provide guidance to local TNC teams and others on FSC-conformant forest management planning and operations, onboard new Group members, and help integrate certification requirements into on-the-ground stewardship generating desired outcomes.
Design, solicit, audit, maintain, and report on evidence, monitoring results, and summary data, leveraging technology solutions, as required for documentation, planning, and ensuring conformance.